Anti-freeze siphon for over the top pump delivery



JC NEWMAN 1 July 19, 1966 ANTI-FREEZE SIPHON FOR OVER THE TOP PUMP DELIVERY Filed April 8, 1963 FROST LINE 6 INVENTOR.

J6 Newman @WMF ATTORNEY United States Patent 3,261,403 ANTI-FREEZE SIPHON FOR OVER THE TOP PUMP DELIVERY JC Newman, 2215 E. Main St., Kalamazoo, Mich. Filed Apr. 8, 1963, Ser. No. 271,396 11 Claims. (Cl. 166-67) This invention relates to anti-freeze siphon for over the top pump delivery. The principal objects of this invention are:

First, to provide structure for draining water from the exposed upper parts of an over the top pump delivery to prevent freezing when the pump is not in operation and which is entirely within the drop pipe of a well and the connected over the top delivery so that no contamination can seep into the well or system.

Second, to provide an anti-freeze structure for siphoning water from an over the top delivery of a well which will operate in a pump and well delivering directly to a water main without an intervening pressure tank or air pressure chamber.

Third, to provide an anti-freeze siphon structure which is simple and inexpensive to install in over the top well :and pump feed lines and which is positive in operation.

Other objects and advantages of the invention will be apparent from a consideration of the following description and claims. The drawings, of which there is one sheet, illustrate a highly practical form of the anti-freeze siphon of the invention applied to a deep well pump and two modified forms of the system applied to an integral over the top well head and to an externally driven Well pump.

FIG. 1 is a fragmentary vertical longitudinal cross sectional view of a deep Well with submerged pump and motor with the anti-freeze siphon incorporated in the over the top delivery from the well drop pipe.

FIG. 2 is a fragmentary transverse cross sectional view taken along the plane of the line 22 in FIG. 1.

FIG. 3 is a fragmentary vertical cross sectional view of a modified form of the system incorporated in an integral over the top delivery fitting.

FIG. 4 is a fragmentary vertical cross sectional view through a further modified form of the system applied to an externally driven pump.

FIG. 1 illustrates, more or less conventionally, a Water well having a casing 1 with a lower point 2 and screen 3 located below water level in the ground as indicated. A deep well pump 4 driven by a submersible motor 5 is located in the bottom of the well with the pump connected to deliver to a drop pipe 6 having a foot valve 7 therein. A cover 8 is secured and sealed to the top of the casing above ground or at least above the frost line. The frost line depicts the depth to which freezing conditions may exist from time to time in cold weather. The top of the drop pipe is connected to and supported by the cover. An inverted over the top delivery pipe 9 connects to the upper end of the drop pipe by means of a suitable fitting or connection fitting 10 and connects at its other end to discharge pipe 11 that extends to below the frost line. An elbow 12 connects the discharge pipe to a water main 13 through a check valve 14 which prevents water from the main from backing into the discharge pipe and well when the pump is not operating. An electrical junction box 15 on the cover permits entry or connection of the electrical cable 16 to the motor.

In order to prevent freezing of water in the top of the drop pipe and the over the top connecting pipe 9, the drop pipe has two bleeder valves 17 and 18 connected thereto below the frost line and above the foot valve and water level. When the pump stops, the foot valve 7 closes preventing water from draining back entirely out of the drop pipe. The lower bleeder valve 18 lets water Patented July 19, 1966 from the top of the drop pipe and the over the top delivery pipe drain back into the casing while the upper valve 17, relieved of the pressure created by the pump lets air from the casing enter the drop pipe from where the air rises to replace the water being drained out.

Without more structure, the discharge pipe 11 and part of the delivery pipe 9 would remain full and be subject to freezing. The invention accordingly provides a siphon tube 19 that extends from between the valves 17 and 18 upwardly and through the over the top delivery pipe and downwardly in the discharge pipe 11 to below the frost line. The lower end of the siphon tube is held in place by a split snap ring 20 installed when the bleeder valves are connected into the drop pipe. The siphon tube may be formed of soft copper or plastic to be forced around the inside of the curved delivery pipe, or it may be made in sections of rigid tubing suitably connected together. The lower end of the siphon pipe is desirably flared as at 21 for a purpose to be described.

The operation of the structure is as follows: With the pump operating, water is delivered through the foot valve 7 and past the bleeder valves 18 and 17, flowing through both the drop pipe and the siphon tube. The flared end 21 on the siphon tube increases the velocity of water in the tube to drive out any air that may be in the upper part of the tube. The water is delivered over the top of the well to the discharge pipe 11 and through the check valve 14.

When the pump is stopped, pressure in the drop pipe and discharge pipe is reduced. Check valve 14 and foot valve 7 close automatically and water begins to bleed from the drop pipe through the bleeder valve 18 under the pressure of the hydrostatic head extending to the over the top delivery pipe. Air from the casing enters valve 17 to break the vacuum in the over the top delivery pipe but since the lower flared end of the siphon tube is below the valve 17, the siphon tube remains full of water. As the water in the upper end of the drop pipe falls to the level of the lower valve 18 (below the frost line) the siphon tube functions to siphon water out of the discharge pipe. The siphon action continues until the level of the water in the discharge pipe reaches the lower end 22 of the siphon tube therein (also below the frost line). The upper end of the drop pipe, the over the top delivery pipe, and the upper end of the discharge pipe are thus clear of water and safe from freezing.

The modification of the invention shown in FIG. 3 operates in the same way. The cap 8A incorporates an integral passage 9A in place of the over the top delivery pipe and a portion of the siphon passage is cast into the cap at 19A. Elbow fittings 23 pressed into the passage connect to separate sections 24 and 25 of the siphon tube. In other respects the structure in the lower ends of the drop pipe, casing and discharge pipe are the same as in FIG. 1 and so are not illustrated.

FIG. 4 shows a modification of the siphon system applied to a well and pump driven externally by a motor 26 and drive rod 27. The drive rod passes through a suitable seal 28 in the cap 8B. The cap includes the same over the top delivery passage 9A and siphon passage 19A as the modification in FIG. 3 and the remaining parts of the well and siphon system are the same as previously described.

In especially deep wells where the water level is over thirty feet below the top of the discharge and drop pipes, it may be unnecessary to provide any bleeder valve if a pump such as a turbine pump is used that lets water drain back into the well when the pump stops. In such a well the deep drop of the water will simply cavitate or create a vacuum in the top of the drop pipe while the siphon tube of the invention draws water out of the delivery pipe to below the front line.

What is claimed as new is: 1. In combination with a well having a casing projecting above ground level and drop pipe with a submerged pump, motor, and foot valve at the bottom of the pipe,

an over the top delivery system for the well and drop pipe comprising,

vertically spaced water bleeder and air bleeder valves connected in said pipe above Water level and below the frost line with the air valve arranged to admit air from the casing to the pipe above the water bleeder valve when the pump is stopped,

a cover sealing the top of said casing and having a fitting passing an electrical cable to said motor, an inverted U-shaped delivery pipe connected to said drop pipe and projecting through said cover and to one side of said casing,

an upright discharge pipe connected at its upper end to the projecting end of said delivery pipe and eX- tending downwardly to below the frost line,

a check valve connected to said discharge pipe below the frost line,

and a siphon tube extending through said delivery pipe and downwardly in said discharge pipe to below the frost line and downwardly in said drop pipe to an open end located between bleeder valves and below the end of the tube in the discharge pipe,

said open end of said siphon tube being downwardly flared.

2. In combination with a well having a casing projecting above ground level and drop pipe with a submerged pump, motor, and foot valve at the bottom of the pipe,

an over the top delivery system for the well and drop pipe comprising,

vertically spaced water bleeder and air bleeder valves connected in said pipe above water level and below the frost line with the air valve arranged to admit air from the casing to the pipe above the water bleeder valve when the pump is stopped,

means sealing the top of said casing and having a fitting passing an electrical cable to said motor,

means forming a delivery passage connected to said drop pipe and projecting through said cover and to one side of said casing,

an upright discharge pipe connected at its upper end to the projecting end of said delivery passage and extending downwardly to below the frost line,

a check valve connected in said discharge pipe below the frost line,

and a siphon tube extending through said means forming said delivery passage and downwardly in said discharge pipe to below the frost line and downwardly in said drop pipe to an open end located between bleeder valves and below the end of the tube in the discharge pipe,

said open end of said siphon tube being downwardly flared.

3. In combination with a well having a casing projecting above the frost line and drop pipe with a submerged pump, and foot valve at the bottom of the pipe, an over the top delivery system for the well and drop pipe comprising,

vertically spaced water bleeder and air bleeder valves connected in said pipe above water level and below the frost line with the air valve arranged to admit air from the casing to the pipe below the water bleeder valve when the pump is stopped,

means sealing the top of said casing and having a fitting passing an activating connection to said pump,

means forming a delivery passage connected to said drop pipe and projecting through said means sealing the top of said casing and to one side of said casing,

an upright discharge pipe connected at its upper end to the projecting end of said delivery passage and extending downwardly to below the frost line,

a check valve connected in said discharge pipe below the frost line,

and a siphon passage extending through said means forming said delivery passage and downwardly in said discharge pipe to below'the frost line and downwardly in said drop pipe to an open end located between bleeder valves and below the end of the tube in the discharge pipe,

said open end of said siphon passage being downwardly flared.

4. In combination with a well having a casing projecting above the frost line and drop pipe with a submerged pump, motor, and foot valve at the bottom of the pipe, an over the top delivery system for the well and drop pipe comprising,

vertically spaced water bleeder and air bleeder valves connected in said pipe above water level and below the frost line with the air valve arranged to admit air from the casing to the pipe above the water bleeder valve when the pump is stopped,

a cover sealing the top of said casing and having a fitting passing an electrical cable to said motor,

a delivery passage formed in said cover and connected to said drop pipe and projecting through said cover and to one side of said casing,

an upright discharge pipe connected at its upper end to the projecting end of said delivery passage and extending downwardly to below the frost line,

a check valve connected in said discharge pipe below the frost line,

a siphon passage formed in said cover,

and siphon tubes connected to the ends of said siphon passage and extending downwardly in said discharge pipe to below the frost line and downwardly in said drop pipe to an open end located between bleeder valves and below the end of the tube in the discharge pipe,

said open end of said last siphon tube being downwardly flared.

5. In combination with a Well having a casing projecting above the frost line and drop pipe with a submerged pump, and foot valve at the bottom of the pipe, an over the top delivery system for the well and drop pipe comprising,

vertically spaced water bleeder and air bleeder valves connected in said pipe above water level and below the frost line with the air valve arranged to admit air from the casing to the pipe above the water bleeder valve when the pump is stopped,

a cover sealing the top of said casing and having a fitting passing a drive shaft to said pump,

a delivery passage formed in said cover and connected to said drop pipe and projecting through said cover and to one side of said casing,

an upright discharge pipe connected at its upper end to the projecting end of said delivery passage and extending downwardly to below the frost line,

a check valve connected in said discharge pipe below the frost line,

a siphon passage formed in said cover,

and siphon tubes connected to the ends of said siphon passage and extending downwardly in said discharge pipe to below the frost line and downwardly in said drop pipe to an open end located between bleeder valves and below the end of the tube in the discharge p p said open end of said last siphon tube being downwardly flared.

6. A cover for a well having a casing projecting above the frost line and drop pipe with a submerged pump, motor, and foot valve at the bottom of the pipe,

said pipe having vertically spaced water bleeder and air bleeder valves connected to said pipe above water level and below the frost line with the air valve arranged to admit air from the casing to the pipe above the water bleeder valve when the pump is stopped,

said cover having a fitting passing an electrical cable to said motor,

a delivery passage formed in said cover and adapted to be connected to said drop pipe and projecting through said cover and to one side of said casing,

the projecting end of said passage being adapted to be connected to an upright discharge pipe to project downwardly to a check valve located below the frost line,

a siphon passage formed in said cover,

and siphon tubes adapted to be connected to the end of said siphon passage and extended downwardly in said discharge pipe to below the frost line and downwardly in said drop pipe to an open end located between bleeding valves and below the end of the tube in the discharge pipe,

said open end on the one of said siphon tubes being downwardly flared and adapted to be anchored in position within said drop pipe.

7. A cover for a well having a casing projecting above the frost line and drop pipe With a submerged pump, and foot valve at the bottom of the pipe,

said pipe having vertically spaced water bleeder and air bleeder valves connected to said pipe above water level and below the frost line with the air valve arranged to admit air from the casing to the pipe above the Water bleeder valve when the pump is stopped,

said cover having a fitting passing a driving connection to said pump,

a delivery passage formed in said cover and adapted to be connected to said drop pipe and projecting through said cover and to one side of said casing,

the projecting end of said passage being adapted to be :connected to an upright discharge pipe to project downwardly to a check valve located below the frost line,

a siphon passage formed in said cover,

and siphon tubes adapted to be connected to the end of said siphon passage and extended downwardly in said discharge pipe to below the frost line and downward-1y in said drop pipe to an open end located between bleeder valves and below the end of the tube in the discharge pipe,

said open end on the one of said siphon tubes being downwardly flared.

'8. A cover for a well having a casing projecting above the frost line and drop pipe with a submerged pump, and foot valve at the bottom of the pipe,

said pipe having vertically spaced water bleeder and air bleeder valves connected to said pipe above water level and below the frost line with the air valve arranged to admit air from the casing to the pipe above the water bleeder valve when the pump is stopped,

said cover sealing the top of said casing,

means forming a delivery passage adapted to be connected to said drop pipe and projecting to one side of said casing,

the projecting end of said means being adapted to be connected to an upright discharge pipe extending downwardly to a check valve located below the 'frost line,

and means in said cover forming a siphon tube adapted to extend downwardly in said discharge pipe to below the frost line and downwardly in said drop pipe to an open end located between bleeder valves and below the end of the tube in the discharge pipe,

said open end of said siphon pipe being downwardly flared and adapted to be anchored in position within said drop pipe.

9. A cover for a well having a casing projecting above the frost line and drop pipe with a submerged pump, and foot valve at the bottom of the pipe,

said pipe having vertically spaced water bleeder and air bleeder valves connected to said pipe above water level and below the frost line with the air valve arranged to admit air from the casing to the pipe above the water bleeder valve when the pump is stopped,

said cover sealing the top of said casing,

means forming a delivery passage adapted to be connected to said drop pipe and projecting to one side of said casing,

the projecting end of said means being adapted to be connected to an upright discharge pipe extending downwardly to a check valve located below the frost line,

and means in said cover forming a siphon tube adapted to extend downwardly in said discharge pipe to below the frost line and downwardly in said drop pipe to an open end located between said bleeder valves and below the end of the tube in the discharge pipe.

10. In a well having a casing and a drop pipe with a submerged pump at the bottom of the drop pipe,

means forming a delivery passage connected to the top of said drop pipe and extending above the frost line and downwardly to below the frost line,

valve means in said drop pipe located below the frost line and adapted to drain the upper portion of said drop pipe and said delivery passage and admit air thereto when said pump is stopped,

and means forming a siphon passage extending from a point below the frost line in said delivery passage and through the delivery passage to an elevated point and then downwardly to a point in said drop pipe below the frost line and below the end of the siphon passage in the delivery passage.

11. In a well having a casing and a drop pipe with a submerged pump at the bottom of the drop pipe,

means forming a delivery passage connected to the top of said drop pipe and extending above the frost line and downwardly to below the frost line,

valve means in said drop pipe located below the frost line and adapted to drain the upper portion of said drop pipe and said delivery passage and admit air thereto when said pump is stopped,

and means forming a siphon passage extending from said delivery passage at a point below the frost line to an elevated point and then downwardly to a point in said drop pipe below the frost line and below the end of the siphon passage in the delivery passage.

References Cited by the Examiner UNITED STATES PATENTS 2,877,849 3/1959 Morrison et al 1666'7 3,011,553 12/1961 Ortman 16675 3,039,532 6/1962 Williams 16675 3,064,736 11/1962 Tubbs 16667 3,095,928 7/1963 Morrison et a1. 16675 CHARLES E. OCONNELL, Primary Examiner. JACOB L. NACKENOFF, Examiner. C. D. JOHNSON, I. A. LEPPINK, Assistant Examiners. 

11. IN A WELL HAVING A CASING AND DROP PIPE WITH A SUBMERGED PUMP AT THE BOTTOM OF THE DROP PIPE, MEANS FORMING A DELIVERY PASSAGE CONNECTED TO THE TOP OF SAID DROP PIPE AND EXTENDING ABOVE THE FROST LINE AND DOWNWARDLY TO BELOW THE FROST LINE, VALVE MEANS IN SAID DROP PIPE LOCATED BELOW THE FROST LINE AND ADAPTED TO DRAIN THE UPPER PORTION OF SAID DROP PIPE AND SAID DELIVERY PASSAGE AND ADMIT AIR THERETO WHEN SAID PUMP IS STOPPED, AND MEANS FORMING A SIPHON PASSAGE EXTENDING FROM SAID DELIVERY PASSAGE AT A POINT BELOW THE FROST LINE TO 